At the core of the ongoing rise of far-right populists sits their claim to be on the side of the people and against the corrupt elites. That’s how they’ve managed to exploit the popular anger against mainstream parties across Europe — particularly in countries where the Left has failed to present itself as a credible alternative to the status quo. And they’re not only winning elections but also influencing the political mainstream along the way. But these far-right populists are by and for the ruling class just as much as the mainstream parties — only a different faction than the one currently in charge.

Mainstream commentators and academics are keen to emphasize these parties’ “illiberal” discourse and policies. We know much less, however, about the class forces and interests they represent. Sure, it’s self-obvious that businessmen like Donald Trump or Richard Tice are nothing but elite. But right-wing populism is not merely about a bunch of rich mavericks with hyperinflated egos. Understanding their political movements means moving beyond the moralistic, personalized caricatures presented by the liberal commentariat.

Generally, political parties are vehicles for certain class forces to promote their specific interests. To establish which class forces and interests are behind the populist far right, we need to delve into the social background of the wider party elites (not just their “charismatic leaders”), who their donors and mainstream media backers are, and, most importantly, what their economic agenda actually looks like.